For more information, visit the Ohio Department of Aging web site at: http://www.goldenbuckeye.com
and Ohio State University Extension’s “Aging in Ohio” web site at: http://www.hec.ohio-state.edu/famlife/aging
Also known as a “brain attack” or a CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident), it occurs when blood circulation to the brain is interrupted. When this happens, brain cells can die from the resulting lack of oxygen and brain tissue is damaged. There are two broad categories of stroke; those caused by:
The effects range from mild to severe depending on:
Survivors of stroke might experience one or more of the following:
Different areas of the brain control different functions. When certain brain cells are not able to function due to stroke, the parts of the body controlled by those brain cells are unable to function. If the stroke occurs in the left hemisphere or left side of the brain, the right side of the body will be affected. For 95 percent of people, the left hemisphere controls the speech and language centers. Those affected may experience right-sided paralysis or weakness, and a condition known as aphasia. Aphasic persons may understand what is heard, but be unable to find the right words to speak or write. They may have difficulty “decoding” both the written and spoken word and may only understand hand gestures.
The right hemisphere receives and interprets sensory information. It is thought to be the artistic or creative center of the brain. Those affected may experience left-sided weakness or paralysis, and spatial or perceptual deficits. This involves problems perceiving distances, sizes, forms, and how parts relate to whole objects. Persons affected may have problems climbing stairs, reaching for an object, or doing self-care chores. Other stroke-related problems may involve behavior changes. Strokes can cause personality changes: a quiet person may become loud and boisterous, a person who is normally calm might become easily upset and swear inappropriately, a person might lose control of his or her ability to control emotions and laugh or cry at inappropriate times and may be embarrassed by this inability to maintain control.
If you have one or more of these signs … don’t wait … call 911 right away!
Warning signs of brief episodes known as “transient ischemic attacks,” “TIA’s,” or “mini-strokes” include:
Don’t ignore these episodes. They might indicate a serious underlying condition that won’t go away without medical help.
Risk Factor: High Blood Pressure
What You Can Do: Check with your doctor. Maintain proper weight. Avoid drugs known to raise blood pressure. Watch your diet. Exercise more.
Risk Factor: Cigarette Smoking
What You Can Do: Your doctor can recommend programs and medications that may help you quit smoking.
Risk Factor: Heart Disease
What You Can Do: If you are over 50, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) scientists believe you and your doctor should make a decision about aspirin therapy to help determine whether it or some other blood-thinning therapy will benefit you.
Risk Factor: Warning Signs or History of Stroke
What You Can Do: If you experience a TIA (mini-stroke) or any other warning sign, call 911 immediately. A second stroke can be twice as bad.
Risk Factor: Diabetes
What You Can Do: Good control of diabetes can decrease your risk for stroke. Check with your doctor.
Risk Factor: Alcohol Consumption
What You Can Do: Reduce alcohol intake—heavy drinking is associated with stroke.
More information about stroke is available online. In particular, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a good source for information. Visit their website at http://www.ninds.nih.gov for online publications and links to other organizations.
Brain Basics: Preventing Stroke (6/14/2004). Retrieved October 27, 2004 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov
NINDS Stroke Information Page (8/19/2004). Retrieved October 27, 2004 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov
Tong, David, MD, “Stanford Stroke Awareness,” Stanford Medical Center.
What You Need to Know About Stroke (7/1/2004). Retrieved October 27, 2004 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov
Click here for the PDF version of this Fact Sheet.
Adapted by Terri Tallman, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. from DRIVE: Transporting Older and Disabled Passengers, a training program developed by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging in cooperation with the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Ohio Department of Aging.
Revised in 2004 by Judy Hardy, Ohio Department of Aging.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868